ABOUT

Refugee Forum of King County
 

In 1978 with increasing numbers of refugees arriving in King County, the Regional Office of Refugee
Resettlement began hosting monthly meetings for local refugee resettlement organizations to plan
services and discuss issues. This is where the Refugee Forum was born.

The original members of Refugee Forum included the local refugee resettlement agencies known as
Voluntary Resettlement Agencies (VOLAGS), the Refugee Community Development Office (which
later became the State’s Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance), the Office of Health, Education
and Welfare, Seattle/King County Public Health, Seattle Central Community College and the regional
staff of the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement. Other resettlement organizations that participate
include; World Relief (WR), Lutheran Community Services (LCS), International Rescue Committee
(IRC), Jewish Family Services (JFS) and Diocese of Olympia.

The Refugee Forum of King County has a long history, dating back nearly 40 years. In June 1982,
Refugee Forum was granted 501c3 nonprofit status from the IRS and it has been a membership
organization run by volunteer board consisting of two co-chairs, a treasurer and a secretary. Refugee
Forum strives to respond to the changing needs of refugee communities and the organizations that
serve them. Jennifer Malloy of DSHS has been the Chair for the forum for many years and is now
treasurer. Current Chair is Caroline Okello of St. James Cathedral and Secretary is Vicki Heck of King
County Library System, Renton Cluster.

As an increasing number of newly arrived refugees were resettled in South King, Refugee Forum
members voted to move the meetings south to Renton where they were hosted by the City of
Renton for a while then to King County Library System, Renton Cluster where it held meetings until
the pandemic, which then switched to be held virtually via zoom. Previously the Refugee Forum of
King County met in various locations, including and not limited to the Seattle Red Cross, Lighthouse
for the Blind, Renton City Hall and Renton Library, and usually attracts on average 50 participants
every month from different organizations which support refugees.

More than three decades after it was started, Refugee Forum continues to grow and looks for ways
to improve the lives of the diverse refugees in King County through information sharing, problem
solving and creating community connections. Word of mouth attracts new attendees, mostly staff
or volunteers from resettlement agencies, city and county employees and all other partners with
interest in the refugee population.